ok I didn't think this would ever happen but I finally got DotNetNuke installed into wwwroot. basically I had to run the installer utility that has version 4.3.7 and go through its entire setup. but instead of in the end allowing it to install the site, i copied what it installed wwwroot\dotnetnuke into wwwroot and ran the localhost/install/install.aspx and it worked w00t. but it wasnt even that easy because mysql is quierlly. i had to specifically in setup make it create a dnninstaller database or it wouldnt work. i still dont know how the setup was able to connect to the database because i cant figure out how to connect to mssqlserver or sqlexpress  using the SQL Server Configuration Manager or SQL Server Surface Area Configuration because they always say cannot connect to localhost blah blah.. i just dont know any of this stuff, not even enough to know how to google a tutorial that makes sense.. the docs were no help to me at all they told me squat about mysql. it would be cool is someone here could tell me how to use mysql manually and such or point me in the right direction. i guess i wont beable to use the dotnetnuke 4.4.0 till someone makes a new installer utility, sigh, i wonder if im missing much. but finally i can start to have some fun on my personal web server

Ok I'm freakin out. this thing is using imaginary folders and stuff I can't control. The only way I can access my site is by doing http://localhost/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

yet there is no Home\tabid\36 folder. so still, I can't access my site by doing www.mysite.com

any help greatly appreaciated

all is good this article saved me http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/ForumsDotNetNuke/tabid/795/forumid/8/threadid/2666/scope/posts/Default.aspx

funny i managed it all before any of the posts after the sql error one got even visible.. i think when you post something it should just appear.. oh well thanks for the search feature =\